House Rejects Bill Seeking Single Term of Six Years for President, Govs, LG Chairmen

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The House of Representatives has rejected a bill seeking to amend the 1999 constitution to provide for a single term of six years for the offices of the president, state governors and local government chairmen.

The bill also seeks zonal rotation of presidential and governorship seats, as well as holding of the elections in one day.

The intent of the proposed legislation was to ensure inclusive governance and to curb wastages occasioned by the four-year periodic elections.

The bill specifically seeks to alter Sections 76, 116, 132, 136, and some others of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

However, the bill, which was sponsored by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and 33 other lawmakers, was voted against at the plenary on Thursday.

The synopsis of the bill showed that it will, among others, seek amendment of Section 132 of the Principal Act by inserting a new Sub-section (2), deleting the extant Sub-section (4) and renumbering the entire section accordingly to provide that an election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be rotated between the north and the south regions of the country every six years.

The bill also seeks to amend  Section 76 of the Principal Act by inserting a new Sub-section (3) as follows; 

“(3) For the Purposes of Section (1) of this section, all elections into the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly shall hold simultaneously on the same date to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission in consultation with the National Assembly and in accordance with the Electoral Act.”

It added: “Section 116 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting a new a subsection (3) as follows; For the purposes of Sub-section (1) of this Section, all elections into the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Councils shall be held simultaneously on the same date to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in consultation with the National Assembly and in accordance with the Electoral Act.

“Section 132 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting a new Sub-section (2), deleting the extant Sub-section (4) and renumbering the entire section accordingly: An election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be rotated between the North and the South regions of the Country every six years. 

“Provided that where it is the turn of the North or South to present a candidate for election into the office of President, it shall be rotated among the three geo-political zones that constitute the regions.

“The extant subsection (2) becomes subsection (3) The extant subsection (3) becomes subsection (4) The extant subsection (4) is hereby deleted The extant subsection (5) remains subsection (5).”

The bill also seeks to amend Section 136 of the Principal Act by deleting the extant Sub-section s 1 & 2 and replacing them with new Sub-section s I, 2 and 3 as follows:

“If a person duly elected as president dies before taking and subscribing the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office, or is for any reason whatsoever unable to be sworn in, the person elected with him as First Vice President shall be sworn in as President and he shall appoint a new First Vice President with the approval by a simple majority of the National Assembly at a joint sitting.”

However, when the bill was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abass, who presided over the plenary, it was the nays that had it.